Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 230

hapter 230

The question hit her like a physi

That’s not your concern.”

My mummy gris sad eyes too sometimes. But she says it’s okay to be and as long as you don’t stay sad forever. Are you going to stay sad forever?

Julian opened his mouth, closed it, utterly unprepared. “That complicated.”

“Grown-ups always say that Lila reached out and took his hand with easy confidence. “Come on. We should find Mummy before she worries.”

Against every instinct, Julian let himself be pulled to his feet by this tiny, imperious creature.

“What’s your name?” he asked as they headed toward the elevator.

“Lila Holt. I’m four years old and I live in Kensington with my mummy and daddy. What’s your name?

“Julian.” He didn’t offer his last name.

“That’s a nice name. You’re very handsome, Mr. Julian. My mummy would say you’re ‘classically handsome.”

They reached the fourth floor. “Mummy’s probably scared. She doesn’t like it when I disappear.”

“Then perhaps you shouldn’t disappear,” Julian said dryly.

dn’t mean to.” Lila looked up at him. “Do you have children, Mr. Julian?”

The question drove the air from his lungs. “No.”

“Why not? You’d be a good daddy.”

“I don’t think I’d be a good father. I wasn’t very good at being a husband.”

“Were you married?”

“Once. A long time ago.”

“What happened?”

“She died.” The lie came easily now, though deep down he didn’t believe Elena was really dead.

“That’s sad. I’m sorry, Mr. Julian.”

They moved through the toy department, and Julian could hear a woman’s voice calling out desperately. “Lila! Lila, please!”

That’s Mummy. She sounds worried.”

Lila tugged him forward, weaving between displays. “Mummy!” she called out. “Mummy, I’m here!!

They rounded a corner, and Julian saw a woman with her back to them, brown hair falling in waves, her posture rigid with panic. Something about the clave of her spine made his breath catch.

1:12 am P PPP.

Chapter 230

But it wouldn’t be. Elena was dead. He’d stood on the Brooklyn Bridge. He’d attended the memorial service.

Lila ran forward and tugged on the woman’s sleeve. “Mummy, I’m sorry I scared you. But look, this nice man helped me find you’

The woman turned.

Time stopped.

Brown hair framing features that had haunted him every day for four years.

“Elena?” Julian’s voice came out broken, disbelieving. “You’re… you’re alive?”

Elena stared at the stranger, her mind blank with confusion and rising alarm. She’d never seen this man before she was certain of it. Yet he was looking at her like she’d risen from the dead, his face drained of color, his hands trembling.

“I’m sorry,” she said carefully, stepping between Lila and this stranger. “Do I know you?”

The man flinched as if she’d struck him. “Elena, it’s me. It’s Julian.”

The name meant nothing to her. “I think you have me confused with someone else. My name is Elena Hunt, but I don’t-

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